Veronica plant named ‘Pink Explosion’

ABSTRACT

A  Veronica  plant particularly distinguished by a compact, well-branched plant habit, strong stems, strongly-branched, compact inflorescences, a very floriferous blooming habit with re-blooming and easy to grow a strong and well-developed plant in one season, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Veronica sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Pink Explosion’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Veronica, botanically known as Veronica sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Pink Explosion’. ‘Pink Explosion’ was developed through a cross conducted in the summer of 2006 between the female, an un-named proprietary Veronica sp. seedling (unpatented) and the male parent, an un-named proprietary Veronica sp. seedling (unpatented) in Haarlem, The Netherlands. ‘Pink Explosion’ was selected as a single plant in June 2007 and was first propagated in summer 2007 via softwood cuttings in Haarlem, The Netherlands.

‘Pink Explosion’ has been propagated for approximately 4 generations via softwood cuttings and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via softwood cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. ‘Pink Explosion’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Haarlem, The Netherlands.

-   -   1. A compact, well-branched plant habit;     -   2. Strong stems;     -   3. Strongly-branched, compact inflorescences;     -   4. A very floriferous blooming habit with violet buds and         re-blooming; and     -   5. Easy to grow a strong and well-developed plant in one season.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Veronica plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of two-year-old plants grown in Haarlem, The Netherlands in July 2010.

FIG. 1 shows a whole plant, including leaves, buds and inflorescence.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the inflorescence.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of a mature leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Pink Explosion’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on two-year-old plants grown outdoors in Haarlem, The Netherlands in July 2010. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2007 edition).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Veronica sp.         -   Denomination.—‘Pink Explosion’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—An un-named, proprietary Veronica sp.             seedling (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—An un-named, proprietary Veronica sp. seedling             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Plant habit.—Broad upright.         -   Life cycle.—Herbaceous Perennial.         -   Shape.—Broad inverted triangle.         -   Growth rate.—In the spring, about 12.0 cm per month.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Plant height (from top of soil).—47.7 cm.         -   Plant width (horizontal plant diameter).—32.7 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 4 months.         -   Branching description.—Freely branching from the base.         -   Basal branching.—Present.         -   Average number of lateral branches per plant.—18 main stems.         -   Lateral branch length (excluding the inflorescence).—22.4             cm.         -   Lateral branch diameter.—3.0 mm.         -   Internode length.—4.8 cm.         -   High temperature tolerance.—At least tolerant to             temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius.         -   Low temperature tolerance.—At least tolerant to temperatures             as low as USDA Zone 4. -   Stem:     -   -   Appearance.—Rounded and slightly glossy.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—Between RHS 143B and RHS 144A (Green).         -   Pubescence.—Densely pubescent; average length of hairs is             0.5 mm and greyed-white (the pubescence is too small to be             accurately measured by R.H.S.). -   Leaves:     -   -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.         -   Arrangement and type.—Opposite, single.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—10 (5 pairs).         -   Shape.—Narrow ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Length.—6.5 cm.         -   Width.—2.7 cm.         -   Texture.—Moderately glossy, pubescent.         -   Pubescence.—Upper surface is sparsely covered with very             short hairs that are 0.3 mm in length, and greenish-white             (hairs are too small to be accurately measured with R.H.S.).             Lower surface is smooth except for main vein, which is             sparsely covered with very short hairs that are 0.4 mm in             length and greenish-white (hairs are too small to be             accurately measured with R.H.S.).         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 143B (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 143C.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A (Green) and RHS             144A (Yellow-green). Lower surface: RHS 143B (Green).         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A (Green). Lower             surface: RHS 137C and RHS 137D (Green).         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: 2.0 mm. Diameter: Average             width is 2.5 mm. Color: RHS 143B and RHS 143C (Green). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Compound terminal raceme.         -   Height.—23.5 cm.         -   Width.—7.5 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Primary racemes             average approximately 200; secondary racemes average             approximately 85; each inflorescence holds an average of 8             secondary racemes.         -   Flowering habit (length of flowering season).—Continuously             from July to late September.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—300.         -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—580.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—16,000.         -   Time to flower.—Approximately 8 months when field-grown.         -   Fragrance.—Moderate to faint, somewhat unpleasant.         -   Rate of flower opening.—Of the terminal raceme,             approximately 20% are open at any given time; of the             secondary racemes, approximately 35% are open at any given             time. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Length.—5.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Rate of opening.—Approximately 20% opens at once; all             flowers have opened in approximately 8 weeks.         -   Color.—RHS 76D. -   Flowers:     -   -   Aspect.—Outward.         -   Type.—Campanulate.         -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—Approximately 7 days.         -   Diameter.—7.0 mm.         -   Depth.—7.0 mm.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Petals.—Appearance: Dull, smooth. Quantity per flower: 4.             Arrangement: Campanulate, lower 40% fused. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Broad acute. Base: Fused. Margin:             Entire. Length: 6.0 mm. Width: 2.0 mm and upper petals             average 3.0 mm.         -   Color when opening (both surfaces).—RHS 69D to RHS 76D.         -   Color when fully opened (both surfaces).—RHS 69D to RHS             N155B.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Rotate. Length: 2.5 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Rotate. Texture: Dull, smooth. Quantity             per flower: 4. Shape: Narrow ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Cuneate, lower 5% fused. Margin: Entire. Length: Upper             sepals 1.5 mm and lower sepals 2.5 mm. Width: 1.0 mm. Color:             Immature (both surfaces): RHS 37C (Green). Mature (both             surfaces): RHS 137C (Green).         -   Peduncle.—Length: 22.8 cm. Diameter: 3.0 mm. Color: RHS 143B             and RHS 143C (Green). Angle: Primary racemes are straight             upright, secondary racemes are at an average angle of 30             degrees. Strength: Strong.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 1.0 mm. Diameter: 0.5 mm. Angle: 60             degrees. Strength: Strong. Color: RHS 144B and RHS 143C             (Green). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 2. Filament: Length: 4.0 mm. Color: RHS             N155D (White). Anthers: Shape: Dorsifixed, sagittate. Width:             2.0 mm. Color: RHS 65B and RHS 65C (Red-purple). Pollen             amount: Sparse. Pollen color: Close to RHS 160D             (Greyed-yellow).         -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Pistil length: 5.5 mm. Stigma: Color:             RHS N77D (Purple). Shape: Clavate. Style: Color: RHS 75C             (Purple). Length: 5.5 mm.         -   Ovary.—Color: RHS 144B (Yellow-green). -   Fruit/seed set: No fruit or seeds observed -   Disease and insect resistance: No more susceptible or resistant than     other Veronica varieties.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘Pink Explosion’ differs from the female parent, a proprietary un-named Veronica plant (unpatented) in that ‘Pink Explosion’ has more strongly branched and compact red-purple to purple flowers, while the female parent has less strongly branched and compact lighter red-purple to violet-blue inflorescences.

‘Pink Explosion’ differs from the male parent, a proprietary un-named Veronica plant (unpatented) in that ‘Pink Explosion’ has a compact well-branched habit, while the male is taller and has a less branched habit.

‘Pink Explosion’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Twilight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,414) in that ‘Pink Explosion’ has flowers that are moderately to faintly fragrant, purple flower buds and red-purple to purple flowers, while ‘Twilight’ has flowers that are un-fragranced, violet flower buds, and violet-blue flowers. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Veronica plant as described and shown herein. 